The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-01-06
NO NORE RAILROADS.


During the last session of the legisla-
ture, when a strenuous effort was being
made by wlld.eyed impracticals and soured
and short-slShted demsgogues TO force
maximum freight bill through, the Eagle
came out in a series OF articles which had
the effect OF thoroughly arouNn3 the peo-
pie of the west and the soulhV est. The
Eagle undertook TO show and did show,
conclusively, that in the absence of any
restrictive or oppressive legislation that q
new era of railway construction would
soon follow In western Kansas, but that
the passage of the maximum freight and
tariff bill would discourage any further
railroad building In the state and would in
etfsc: retard the development of west and
southwestern Kansas many years. In
looking over these articles now in the
light of what followed, til, y seem akin to
prophecy. Every prediction has been
more thai fulfilled The tariff and other
ike bills were killed after hard fight by
men principally from southwest and west
ern Kansas, who felt convinced that such
railway legislation or any railway legisla.
ton would be the death knell to as many
As forty counties, OF one third OF the state,
at least for vars, so far as any deYelOp-
ment OF growth was Concerned. Without
railroads western Kansas would have had
40 equal showing in the race of civilizs-
ton; with them her possibilities are i'm
measurable.
From the recommendations made by
the railway commissioners, as well as from
hints as to what the gov rnOr proposes to
say In his message, it is very evident that
another effort will be made this winter at
railway legislation. All the influence that
the present railway have, and ali the in
fluence OF many OF the older counties and
debt-burthened towns aud cities OF eastern
Kansas will be thrown In favor Of any
scheme that VIII promise TO cut of OF re-
strict AID voting The success OF such a
policy would be al the expense of the
| prosperity and development of forty OF
| dfty counties of western Kansas, where a
high state of cultivation and a progress
sive civIliz iiion cannot be naintSined in
the absence Of railways not only, but OF
competitive railways. The people of the
eTritory alluded TO have rich soil beneath
their feet, and over their heads q tsmilIng
heaven, but with these advantages pros
perity is out OF the question In the absence
of cheap fuel and chesp lumber, which car
be afforded only by cheap transportation
for long distances by competitive rail
ways. The howl which will be raised BY
railway attorneys in either house. and by
railway lobbys outside that tie s,se Il
gong TO the dogs because of her immens'
aggregate indebtedness, will be terrific
and prolonged howl in which hands vii
belaid upon hearts, eyes rolled EkywaTC
and the patriotism of members appealed
!. to, yet all this demonstration will have
been paid for before made. IL is a cleal
J uncontrovertable proposition of polit,ca
economy, we tske it, that there can be NJ
great loss where any municipality gives it
interest bearing note IN securing any per
J manent property whose valuation for tax
able purposes is twice the amount OF ID
, note OF bond given.
} But We did not start out 90 discuss thl
question either generally or 81 stemAticail.
/ at this time, only 10 give notice to all par
lies il interest thai she EAgIs WIN be Wis